Undercover Fish and Wildlife officers seized 322 packages of moose and elk meat, worth around $6,500 on the black market, on July 14, 2014. Six people have been convicted as a result of the four-year long investigation.

Three people pleaded guilty to illegally selling moose meat in Stony Plain Court on Monday after a lengthy investigation in which undercover Fish and Wildlife officers busted up a wildlife trafficking ring.

Eva Irene Jennie Potts was convicted of two counts of trafficking wildlife while Ryan Morley Grandbois-Faulds and Daisy Fay Potts were each convicted of one count of illegally selling moose meat.

Between the three of them, fines for the illegal sale total $27,350.

Eva Potts, Daisy Potts and Grandbois-Faulds were among six people from communities near Marlboro, Redwater, Darwell and Edmonton convicted of illegal wildlife trafficking after a lengthy investigation by Fish and Wildlife officers between July 2010 and July 2014.

In June, Edward Joseph L'Hirondelle and Harold Daniel L'Hirondelle plead guilty to two charges each of trafficking in wildlife, paying fines of $6,900 and $8,415 respectively.

At the same time, Norman Samuel L'Hirondelle was convicted on four counts and ordered to pay fines totalling $27,240.

In 2010, officers received a tip that wildlife meat was being sold illegally around Lac Ste. Anne and launched an undercover investigation called Operation Pilgrim II.

“The special investigations section of our fish and wildlife enforcement branch has many officers working undercover to identify wildlife traffickers throughout the province. They do this by posing as potential buyers and sellers while interacting with suspected wildlife traffickers,” said Brendan Cox, a spokesperson with Alberta Justice.

As a result of this four-year investigation, on July 14, 2014 officers seized 322 packages of moose and elk meat, worth approximately $6,500 on the black market.

“Any unregulated trade in wildlife helps fuel black market demand, which could lead to increased poaching and pressure on animal populations,” Cox said.

Three people pleaded guilty to illegally selling moose meat in Stony Plain Court on Monday after a lengthy investigation in which undercover Fish and Wildlife officers busted up a wildlife trafficking ring.

Eva Irene Jennie Potts was convicted of two counts of trafficking wildlife while Ryan Morley Grandbois-Faulds and Daisy Fay Potts were each convicted of one count of illegally selling moose meat.

Between the three of them, fines for the illegal sale total $27,350.

Eva Potts, Daisy Potts and Grandbois-Faulds were among six people from communities near Marlboro, Redwater, Darwell and Edmonton convicted of illegal wildlife trafficking after a lengthy investigation by Fish and Wildlife officers between July 2010 and July 2014.

In June, Edward Joseph L'Hirondelle and Harold Daniel L'Hirondelle plead guilty to two charges each of trafficking in wildlife, paying fines of $6,900 and $8,415 respectively.